Streveler outstanding in Bombers romp

MONTREAL — They were hoping for a serviceable performance from their rookie quarterback and got a star-studded one instead.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their first game of the CFL season Friday night, absolutely crushing the Montreal Alouettes 56-10 behind a brilliant effort from 23-year-old rookie Chris Streveler.

Streveler passed for 246 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another 98 yards and a major score and led the Bombers to a laugher of a victory.

The final score might have said as much about how bad the Alouettes are as how good the Bombers are, but for a guy playing just his second professional game, Streveler’s performance was very impressive.

Actually, everyone on the Bombers was stellar on this night and they were in complete control from the opening kickoff. Streveler led the Bombers on a 15-play 96-yard drive on their first possession of the game. It ended in a Justin Medlock field goal but it set the tone for a dominant performance.

“Really happy to get the win and perform well as a whole team,” Streveler said. “We put together a 15-play drive on the first drive and that was really good for us, just getting some first downs, really moving the ball.

“The game plan was great. I’ve got to give the coaches a lot of credit setting that up throughout the week. Obviously putting up a lot of points tonight, we’re really happy with how we executed.”

Playing with this kind of talent around him, with a solid offensive strategy from co-ordinator Paul LaPolice and a stellar offensive line, Streveler has been put in a position to succeed.

But you have to execute and Streveler did that extremely well. To be honest, he looked like a prototypical CFL quarterback, spreading the ball around the field and using his legs to pick up first downs when things broke down in the pocket.

“I think I said the other day, he’s not a rookie any more,” Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said of Streveler. “He has shown once again that he’s got the ability to learn on basically a daily basis and possibly a play-by-play, series-by-series basis. If he keeps that up he’ll be a lot of fun to watch.”

Bombers running back Andrew Harris compared Streveler to B.C. Lions quarterback Travis Lulay this week and the similarities to Lulay were obvious in this game. In fact, Steveler came within two yards of becoming the first quarterback to rush for 100 yards in a game since Lulay did it in 2015.

“Playing quarterback, passing is the first and foremost deal,” Streveler said. “You want to be a passer and if things break down and it’s necessary to move the chains by running that’s something that I’m willing to do. I want to take pride in my throwing and the ability to move the ball through the air. The running, that’s just an added element that we can use as well.”

Streveler threw two touchdown passes to his old college roommate Drew Wolitarsky and another to Nic Demski.

“The odds of me scoring are pretty high right now,” Wolitarsky joked. He has three touchdowns in two games this season after catching just one pass all of last season. I just keep doing my job and if the ball presents itself I catch it.”

Receiver Darvin Adams, who played quarterback in high school, also threw a touchdown pass to running back Andrew Harris on a razzle-dazzle play in the first quarter. Streveler scored on a one-yard plunge, backup running back Kienan LaFrance had a late touchdown and Justin Medlock kicked four field goals and six converts, while not missing an attempt.

The Bombers offensive line didn’t allow a single sack and defensive end Tristan Okpalaugo had four tackles and two sacks as the Bombers completely controlled the line of scrimmage.

Even some of the backups got into the act, with rookie receiver Rashaun Simonise blocking a punt and making two catches for 64 yards and quarterback Bryan Bennett going 3-for-4 for 71 yards passing and rushing for 31 yards while leading a 100-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

“That’s a three-phase game and it’s nice to win that way,” O’Shea said. “It’s probably been a while. It was nice to see the guys keep working right through to the fourth quarter and it was nice to get some guys some reps that they wouldn’t normally get.”

The best news for the Bombers is they now know they’ve got a capable man behind centre, even with No. 1 quarterback Matt Nichols injured.

There seems to be no need to rush Nichols back as he recovers from a knee injury that could keep him out another three to five weeks.

Streveler became the first quarterback in CFL history to throw three touchdown passes in each of his first two career starts after coming straight out of college. He played for the University of South Dakota Coyotes as recently as last December.

“After last week, people want to talk about how you did individually and I really don’t care about that,” Streveler said. “I don’t care if (Adams) is throwing three touchdown passes, Harris is running for touchdowns. I don’t care how it happens, as long as we’re putting points up on the board. I don’t care about stats. I just want us to be effective moving the ball and put points up and win.”

The 1-1 Bombers will travel to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats next Friday night.

Wolitarsky puts on show for his folks

MONTREAL — Drew Wolitarsky went back to his roots when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers played in Montreal Friday night.

The 23-year-old receiver, an American who has national status in the CFL because his mother was born in Montreal, had his best game as a pro in a 56-10 win over the Alouettes at Percival Molson Stadium.

He caught four passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns, with both his parents, who met in Montreal before settling in California, in the stands.

“One for mom and one for dad tonight,” Wolitarsky said. “They were here this morning, we went to Old Town, we visited some old stomping grounds. It was just cool being with them and seeing the full circle of life. It was a special moment for all of us tonight.”

Wolitarsky made his first ever visit to Montreal just last year, for his grandfather’s funeral. Two weeks later the Bombers took him in the supplemental draft and he is starting to look like a solid pickup.

“I didn’t really know what was going to happen with football last year and two weeks later I got drafted by the Bombers,” Wolitarsky said. “It’s just kind of cool to come back again in such a different position and to see how quickly life can change and where you can be if you just keep pursuing stuff.”

Wolitarsky now has three touchdowns in two games, all of them coming from rookie quarterback Chris Streveler, who was his college roommate at the University of Minnesota.

Streveler continues to impress everyone in the CFL, including his old college buddy.

“He’s just a tough guy,” Wolitarsky said. “You saw that tonight. He knows how to run a huddle. He gets beat up, he gets hit hard, he just gets right up and gives you that look that says ‘I’m not done, I’m gonna keep going.’ He’s just fun guy to play with … he’s got that energy.”

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